Youth Advisory Council 2025

Ali (he/him) is a driven young professional with over three years of diverse experience across the public and not-for-profit sectors. His work spans social welfare, local government, state government, refugee and asylum seeker advocacy, and, most passionately, youth mental health.

Ali holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from Victoria University of Wellington (NZ), as well as a Certificate in Governance and Risk Foundation from the Governance Institute of Australia. He is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in Public Policy while living in Naarm/Melbourne and working for the Victorian State Government.

As the proud child of migrant parents, Ali brings a deep understanding of lived experience into every space he enters. Drawing from his own journey with mental health, he is especially passionate about early intervention responses and the education of mental health for young people. Ali believes that more awareness and targeted work are needed to address men’s mental health, and he actively champions open, inclusive conversations to reduce stigma and improve support.

He is a strong believer in the power of collaboration, working alongside clinical experts, academics, and frontline workers to co-design better, more inclusive mental health support systems for young people. His advocacy is grounded in community, compassion, and the belief that young people should have a seat at every table where decisions about their wellbeing are made.

In his spare time, Ali enjoys running, exploring Melbourne’s diverse food scene, spending time with friends, and diving into a good book, and most importantly, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the best almond croissant in the city.